Improvement in steam vacuum-pumps



C. H. HALL. Improvement in Steam Vacuum-Pumps.

mYne be e@ UNITED STATES PATENT CHARLES H. HALL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM VACUUMPUMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 131,536, dated September 24, 1872.

CAsE V.

To all whom 'it may concern: Be it known that I, CHARLES H. HALL, of New York city, in the State of New York, have invented a certain Improvement in Steam Pumping Apparatus, of which the following is a specification:

rJhe invention relates to that class of pumping apparatus in which the steam is admitted into the same chamber or chambers with the water, and presses upon the surface thereof. The working parts are small relatively to the capacity for pumping, and the apparatus constitutes an efficient pumping means, operating rapidly and reliably. I employ strong chambers provided with valves for admitting water and holding it against its return, and also with valves for allowing it to be expelled through another pipe to be conducted to an elevated reservoir, or to such other point as may be desired, and the operations of being tilled with water and being discharged succeed each other by reason of a change of position of the steam valve or valves, governing the admission of steam from a boiler or steam-generator, which may be situated at a distance. There are two equal chambers in each set of the apparatus, the two illin g and emptying alternately. The chamber which is llin g with water should complete its filling before its mate is emptied, and the change of the steam-valves is effected automatically on the completion of the emptying of the discharging-chamber.

The following is a full and exact description of what I consider the best means of carrying into e'ect one form of the invention. The accompanying drawing forms a part of this specification.

Figs. l and 2 represent this form of the apparatus. In this two vessels are employed, and the steam-valves are balanced by pistons subject to the pressure of the steam. A device analogous to a latch is employed in connection with each valve and piston to hold it in the shut position, when that has been attained, until the opposite vessel has been emptied to a certain point. Figure 1 is a vertical section, and Fig. 2 is a plan view.

The steam from the pipe E is conducted in the horizontal branch or chest represented to the two valves e1 e2, which control its admission to the respective chambers A1 A2. To the valve e1 is attached the piston f', the pressure against which tends to pull the valve open,

while the direct pressure on the valve tends to one side of the apparatus may answer for both. I make the area of the piston f' a little greater than that of the valve c'. Under ordinary conditions there is a tendency of the valve to open and remain open; but when there is a vacuum below the valve the effective pressure ot' the steam downward on the valve is correspondingly increased, and the violent current of steam rushing past the valve c1 brings the valve down to its seat. It will be understood that the action in the respective chambersthe receiving and expelling the water and the forming of the vacuumis induced at the proper period in each chamber by the escape of a quantity of steam into the discharge-oritice. So soon as the valve el has reached its seat the swinging lever or latch G', turning on the pivot g' and actuated by the spring El', moves over the upper end of the valve-stem, and locks or latches the valve down until the proper period arrives for its release. I' is a piston, playing in a cylinder, J', and having a rod, fi', with a wedgeshaped top.

When the piston is down, as represented, it has no effect; but when it is forced upward its inclined or wedge-like upper end acts on the lever or latch G', and turns it, swings it around against the force of the spring H', and liberates the valve, which then rises by the superior pressure on the piston j". I raise the piston l' at the proper time, by the force of mercury, air, or other expansible fluid, under the influence of the heat of the steam in the opposite chamber A2. The pipe k' leads downward from the piston J', and leads into and exposes a considerable'surface in the interior of the chamber A2. .The level at which this exposure in the chamber A2 is made is important. It should be at such height that when, by the lowering of the water-surface in the chamber A2 in the expulsion of the water, the steam obtains access to this pipe k', it will have sufficient time to heat its contents, induce before the water is entirely expelled from the ,chamber A2.

The advantage of thus raising the piston I' and liberating the corresponding latch, and allowing the' steam-valve e1 to open to commence the work of expelling the water from the chamber A1 a little before the water has ceased to' be expelled from the chamber A2, is very obvious. By its means I induce a steady stream to be delivered through the dischargepipe P.

Any means which will liberate the conning device which holds the steam-valve el shut a little before the chamber A2 is emptied will induce a lcontinuous stream, and thus realize an important end of this part of the invention. Several of the modifications described in other forms may suffice for this purpose, the initiating process being commenced when the steam has forced only a half' or two-thirds of the water from the chamber.

I have found by experiment that the loss of steam is slight when worked in this manner in uncoated vessels of metal; but I propose in ordinary practice to coat the interior of each chamber with japan varnish, or with red lead and oil, or with a solution of rubber or the like, to serve as a durable non-conductor of heat. I can make the chambers and the several connections of lead, to pump acids, or of glass or other material for any special uses requiring" such. v

What I claim as my invention is as follows:

1. In combination with the chambers A1A2, suitable water induction and eduction means, and provisions for receiving steam intermittently into each, I claim the steam-valves el e2 with means for moving each independently to one extreme of its motion, and the holding and liberating means arranged to liberate each valve automatically and allow it to move at the proper period, substantially as herein specified.

Y 2. Also, the .specific arrangement of the valve el, piston j", latch G', spring H,1iberat ing piece I', pipe k', and chambers A1 A2 and their connections, as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of May, 1872, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

C. H. HALL.

Witnesses:

ARNOLD HRMANN, WV. C. DEY. 

